Today@Sam Article

'Terrorist's Son' To Discuss Experience, Peace At SHSU

Two-time TED Talk speaker Zak Ebrahim will share his stories and experiences of growing up as the son of a terrorist and his path he took in practicing preaching the message of peace on April 7.

“The Terrorist’s Son: My Path to Peace,” a Sam Houston State University Global Center for Journalism and Democracy guest speaker series presentation, will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Theater. The presentation will also be livestreamed to SHSU’s The Woodlands Center Room 110.

Both are free and open to the public.

When Zak Ebrahim was 7 years old, his father, El-Sayed Nosair, took him and a small group of men to a shooting range for target practice.

“When it was my turn to shoot, the last bullet that I shot hit the small orange light that sat on top of the target, and to everyone’s surprise—especially mine—the entire thing burst into flames,” Ebrahim said.

His uncle turned to the other men and said, “Like father, like son,” and the entire group burst into laughter.

“It wasn’t until a few years later that I fully understood what they thought was so funny,” Ebrahim said. “They thought they saw in me the same destruction my father was capable of.”

Although initially acquitted of the murder, while serving time on assault and weapons charges, Ebrahim’s father began planning attacks on a dozen New York City landmarks including tunnels, synagogues and United Nations headquarters.

Those plans eventually were foiled by an FBI informant, but later, Ebrahim’s father was convicted for his involvement in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center plot.

As an adult, Ebrahim realized the only way to overcome the challenges of his past was to help others understand that hatred only produces more hate, but belief in non-violence heals. Those cycles of violence, no matter how old, do not have to continue forever.

Ebrahim has written a book on his experiences, “The Terrorist’s Son: A Story of Choice,” which will be on sale during and after the lecture, and he will sign books for a limited time following the lecture.